Outstanding Balances, Refunds & Withdrawals

Withdrawing from a Course After Add/Drop

You may withdraw from a course during the add/drop period and receive a grade of "W."

Withdrawing after add/drop is typically reserved for extended illness or personal emergency, both require documentation and result in a grade of "X." A low or failing grade is not a reason to withdraw after the add/drop period. For more information about withdrawal, see the Online Academic Catalog under Administrative Course Withdrawal.

Withdrawal from a course or courses may have implications for degree progress, financial aid, health insurance and more.

Taking a Semester Off

If you need to take a semester off for personal or financial reasons, it's best to go through the official withdrawal process to make sure your accounts are in good standing when you are ready to return.

Students are strongly encouraged to consider and investigate alternatives to withdrawing. Many options and resources are available to assist students in making an informed decision. Please contact the Dean of Student’s office at 978-934-2100 for names and locations of staff members who can assist you.

Step 3 – Fill out and file, in person, a written notification of withdrawal (pdf) to Registrar’s Office: University Crossing, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell. The date of official withdrawal determines tuition refund and legal or student insurance claims.

Step 4 – Discharge all financial obligations to the university and return all university property.

Dos and Don’ts of Withdrawal

Failure to attend class does not constitute a withdrawal and does not excuse a student from his or her financial obligations.

There is no adjustment to the tuition and fee charges is a student withdraws or drops a class after the add/drop period of the academic semester.

Students who absent themselves from the university without officially withdrawing will remain on all class rosters until they officially withdraw from the university or until the end of the semester.

Students whom have withdrawn, must be readmitted. This is accomplished only through the Office of the Registrar.

Students who are recipients of benefits from the Veterans Administration may not process withdrawals from the university which violate their declarations of classroom attendance. Recipients of veterans benefits are advised that they must receive course grades when their requests to withdraw from the university have been filed after deadlines of the Veterans Administration for processing changes of declared benefit status or when their dates of withdrawal will conflict with declarations of classroom attendance.